I love my cruiser but I live in the mountains and need more towing power for 6000+lbs. The cost and difficulting of aquiring a 1hd has had me looking at the big american motors as a possibility. I wondered if any shops in the US or Canada were doing this and what a rough cost might be. I have seen some done in Australia and other places with both detroit diesels and cummins and know its a huge undertaking but with 1HDT's going for what they are thought it could still be cheaper even with all the mods and new suspension. Don't want to but may have to get a 3/4 ton american workhorse if I can't get it done.
Non Toyota Diesel Conversions
- Thread starter ScottJackson04
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
Have you thought about turbocharging or supercharging your current engine? They make kits to boost power into the low/mid 300hp range and over 350 ft/lbs tq.
TRD makes a supercharger kit.... and I believe Man-A-Fre and Slee Offroad will have turbo kits that are soon to be released.
I'd go that route before performing heart surgery. The old APS turbo kit (Safari) I believe is no longer available; however the 2 above companies are making a similar kit.
A Cummins 6BT (5.9i) would be a pretty bad ass setup and a serious torque monster... however far from a cheap conversion.
TRD makes a supercharger kit.... and I believe Man-A-Fre and Slee Offroad will have turbo kits that are soon to be released.
I'd go that route before performing heart surgery. The old APS turbo kit (Safari) I believe is no longer available; however the 2 above companies are making a similar kit.
A Cummins 6BT (5.9i) would be a pretty bad ass setup and a serious torque monster... however far from a cheap conversion.
the chevy 6.2L is the same setup as a 350 (moter mounts and bellhouseing0 iirc. and there are a few rolling around with 350's in an 80
HZJ60 Guy
Tank Buster
Proffitt installed a Cummins 4BT into Henry's 60 a while back... You might check page 18 in the March edition of the Toyota Trails magazine to find out more about it.....
TB
TB
One of the problems with the 6.2/6.5L chev diesel conversions in 80s is the gearing. The normal highway cruising revs of an 80 are way to high for these big motors that make most of their power at or near idle. One of the 6.5L conv. that I've seen had swapped in 60 series diffs so that he could swap in fj55 3.7:1 diff ratios. Don't know if gearing will be a problem for you or taller ratios are available over there just thought I'd highlight a potential problem area. Best of luck with your conversion.
Profitts is working on either 1 or 2, 4BT cummins swaps in 80's right now.
I got some rough figures of what the job would cost too, its not cheap, but once finished i'm sure its worth ever penny.
I got some rough figures of what the job would cost too, its not cheap, but once finished i'm sure its worth ever penny.
The Chevy V8 diesel will take low gearing much better than a Cummins.
If you are towing 6k an even easier solution would be buy a proper tow rig. I just towed 4k home with my 80 and I was swearing the whole way. I topped out at 62mph. No matter how you build an 80 you will not be happy towing 6k. Headwinds, Mountains, Ride, Safety. It isn't worth it. Go buy a cheap 2wd Cummins for towing and leave the 80 alone.
Linquip and New Brussels Diesels. Search the net. They do hoped up 6.5 turbo diesel conversions in Australia.
The option I want to go with is the Isuzu 4 banger in the box trucks. However, getting all the logistics out has been a PITA. I figure I have another 80k or so before I need to make a decision. My 1FZE only has 210k.
If you are towing 6k an even easier solution would be buy a proper tow rig. I just towed 4k home with my 80 and I was swearing the whole way. I topped out at 62mph. No matter how you build an 80 you will not be happy towing 6k. Headwinds, Mountains, Ride, Safety. It isn't worth it. Go buy a cheap 2wd Cummins for towing and leave the 80 alone.
Linquip and New Brussels Diesels. Search the net. They do hoped up 6.5 turbo diesel conversions in Australia.
The option I want to go with is the Isuzu 4 banger in the box trucks. However, getting all the logistics out has been a PITA. I figure I have another 80k or so before I need to make a decision. My 1FZE only has 210k.
HZJ60 Guy
Tank Buster
Cruiserhead05 said:
Im curious as to what tranny the Proffitt guys are installing behind that 4BT? I'd like a NV4500/5600 manual myself with the new 10-1 three stick Atlas case.......
The nice things about the 4BT are they can be cranked up to put out 250 HP and they are a "dumb" engine in that they do not require all the electronic controls like most other swaps.
HZJ60 Guy
Tank Buster
ginericfj80 said:
No it wouldnt be nuts. You arent in 10-1 all the time. From the Advanced Adapters website.
Since the 4SP has a reduction housing in front of the main case, each low range is controlled independently from the other. The front reduction unit can be selected to “low” and the main case selected in “high” giving a 2.72 reduction.
The main case can have one of two different low range ratios. The current prototype is a 3.8 reduction, and we will also be offering a 2.0 for the production units. When the front housing is in “high” range and the main case is in “low”, our prototype has a 3.8 reduction. For the ultimate low, run both the front housing and the main case in low range to give you a 10.3 reduction! With the ability to run three seperate low range options, one vehicle can be well suited to run sand, mud, trail, and super low rock crawling.
So there you have it.... Way cool
Mickldo said:
not a problem, just correct for the gearing by putting on bigger tires
HZJ60 Guy
Tank Buster
Well, re-gear the dang thing.... Sheesh.
HZJ60 Guy said:
280:1 with the torque off idle of a diesel is way overkill. Especially in a wagon body. It is low and it is nice that you have lots of options but I think it is a little unnecessary for this application. I know to each their own. And since I know personally if I had it I would use it even if it is "stupid low" I would be trashing all sorts of stuff. Plus then you have to go to the centered rearend or is one of the options going to be slightly offset? or even fully offset?
i second fixing the gearing with some 37in. meats
buy a cheep 91.5- 97 dodge with a 12v and a stick in it... change the injectors, turn up the pump and do a little turbo work and it will run circles arround just about anything... My 92 4x4 regular cab will roast the rear tires and still get 18 mpg empty with 33" mudders... 10 to 12mpg with a 12k pound trailer is normal
A few years back on the sor forum this was discussed in detail, the issue with the td6 cummins is the height of the block and oil pan. if memory serves you would need to lift it 4" at least and drop your bump stops quite a bit to keep the axle from hitting the oil pan.
the 4bt is a good viable option but a sbc would be an easier swap and for pulling 6k pretty suitable with the proper transmission.
That is the other issue with this idea, The a440 and a442 might be able to handle it but the a343 I would imagine would have a harder time of not desintegrating under load. not an educated point by any means so please dont flame me but it would be a concern at the least.
Dave
the 4bt is a good viable option but a sbc would be an easier swap and for pulling 6k pretty suitable with the proper transmission.
That is the other issue with this idea, The a440 and a442 might be able to handle it but the a343 I would imagine would have a harder time of not desintegrating under load. not an educated point by any means so please dont flame me but it would be a concern at the least.
Dave
IIRC the 4BT is nothing more than a 6BT (Dodge 5.9L) minus two cylinders. The overall height would then be the same. The upshoot of the 4BT vs. 6BT is the difference in weight.
HZJ60 Guy
Tank Buster
IBCRUSN said:
Is the 4BT that 3.9 liter that everybody always says is louder than a hurricane at full blow?
How do you deal with that? Maybe rino lining the engine compartment?
Yep, should be about as noisy as the 6BT. Buy these and it shouldn't be too much bother:
quiet diesel
quiet diesel
